A BRAWL among young people at a temple fair mor lam concert in Suwannaphum district in Roi Et turned fatal after youths threw an explosive at a rival group, killing three people and injuring 28 others, the permanent secretary for Public Health Dr Narong Sahamethapat said.

Dr Narong, who was in the province on other health work, visited 10 of the injured at Roi Et Hospital. He said two men in their 30s suffered critical injuries.

Following the 3.40am blast at Wat Ban Ta Laew in tambon |Na Yai, police found a 10cm-deep and 10cm-wide crater left by the bomb in front of the stage, while the 28 injured were rushed to two hospitals.

The three deceased were identified as Wiriwan Sribuala, 40, Saravuth Utala, 16, and Abhisit Saengnet, 16.

Roi Et police chief Pol Maj General Narongwit Poungpetra inspected the scene in the morning. Suwannaphum superintendent Pol Colonel Suridet Wannasut reported that the temple was hosting a fair to celebrate a new Ubosot and a mor lam

band was hired to entertain people. An initial probe found that a group of youngsters had a fight with another group during the concert, then someone threw an M67 grenade at the others, leading to the deaths and injuries, Suridet said.